Apparatus for positioning jacks in a plurality of slotted pattern wheel rings according to a predetermined pattern

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for setting jacks successively in the slots of pattern wheel rings includes a carriage to hold a paper, card or the like on which contrasting colors or other suitable markings may indicate the background and pattern of a fabric to be knitted with a plurality of differently colored yarns on a circular knitting machine. The jack setting apparatus is equipped to index a number of pattern wheel rings (one for each of said colors) and to relatively move the carriage and a viewer to successively align the color indications or other markings with the viewer. Such apparatus includes jack positioning means, operable to determine for pattern wheel jacks, a needle raising position in a slot of any ring which an operator may select according to the color or marking on the paper, card or the like aligned with said viewer, and a needle missing position in one slot in each of the other pattern wheel rings.

United States Patent 191 Christopoulos I APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING JACKS IN A PLURALITY OF SLOTTED PATTERN WHEEL RINGS ACCORDING TO A PREDETERMINED PATTERN [75] Inventor: John Christopoulos, Brentwood,

{73] Assignee: The Singer Company, New York,

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 455,439

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.066.696 10/1959 Germany 66/1 R [451 July 15, 1975 Primary ExaminerWm. Carter Reynolds Attorney, Agent, or Firm-MarshaI1 .I. Breen; Chester A. Williams; William V. Ebs

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for setting jacks successively in the slots of pattern wheel rings includes a carriage to hold a paper, card or the like on which contrasting colors or other suitable markings may indicate the background and pattern of a fabric to be knitted with a plurality of differently colored yarns on a circular knitting machine. The jack setting apparatus is equipped to index a number of pattern wheel rings (one for each of said colors) and to relatively move the carriage and a viewer to successively align the color indications or other markings with the viewer. Such apparatus includes jack positioning means, operable to determine for pattern wheel jacks, a needle raising position in a slot of any ring which an operator may select according to the color or marking on the paper, card or the like aligned with said viewer, and a needle missing position in one slot in each of the other pattern wheel rings.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING JACKS IN A PLURALITY OF SLOTTED PATTERN WHEEL RINGS ACCORDING TO A PREDETERMINED PATTERN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to apparatus for positioning jacks in pattern wheel rings which are to be used in knitting a patterned fabric on a circular knitting machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art In U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,897 of Mishcon et al. issued June 13, 1972, a manually operable device is disclosed for positioning jacks in a pattern wheel ring, and in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 289,393 of Mishcon et al. filed Sept. 15, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,581 issued Aug. 13, 1974), apparatus is disclosed for indexing a pattern wheel ring and a carriage carrying pattern indications, and also for setting jacks in the ring according to the pattern indications. The present invention improves upon the device of said patent and apparatus of the said application in that it facilitates the positioning of jacks in pattern wheel rings to be used in knitting yarns of different color into a patterned fabric and in that it facilitates the positioning of jacks in pattern wheel rings to be used in the knitting of blister patterns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention jack setting apparatus is provided with a carriage to carry a paper, card or the like on which contrasting colors or other markings may indicate the background and pattern of a fabric to be knitted using two or more differently colored yarns. Means are provided for indexing a plurality of pattern wheel rings (one for each of said colors) and for relatively moving the carriage and a viewer to successively align the indications on the paper, card or the like with the viewer. .lack positioning mechanism is provided for each pattern wheel ring and such jack positioning mechanisms are operable to determine for pattern wheel jacks, a needle raising position in a slot of any ring which an operator may select according to the indication on the paper, card or the like in alignment with said viewer, and a needle missing position in one slot in each of the other one or more pattern wheel rings. The apparatus is constructed to enable an operator by altering its mode of operation to conveniently program, the pattern wheels of a circular knitting machine for the production of blister patterns by suitably positioning the jacks for this purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing mechanism according to the invention for use in positioning jacks in pattern wheel rings according to indications on a paper supported in a moveable carriage.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing control circuitry for the mechanism of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, reference characters 10, 12 and 14 designate pattern wheel rings which are of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,660,991 of Lester Mishcon and Donald W. Reagan for Pattern Wheel With Pivotally Mounted .lacks issued May 9, 1972 in that the pattern wheel slots include jacks which are pivotally mounted for movement between needle actuating and non-actuating positions. As shown, pattern wheel ring 10 includes jacks 16 which are pivotally mounted for movement in slots 18 extending between teeth 20. Pattern wheel ring 12 includes jacks 22 pivotally mounted for movement in slots 24 extending between teeth 26, and pattern wheel 14 includes jacks 28 pivotally mounted for movement in slots 30 extending between teeth 32. The pattern wheel rings 10, 12 and 14 are rotatable and may be moved incrementally in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by members 34, 36, and 38 respectively acting through ratcheting mechanisms 40, 42 and 44 thereon. The pattern wheel rings and members 34, 36 and 38 may be mounted as in the manner shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,668,897 to provide a common axis of rotation for the pattern wheel rings and members 34, 36 and 38 (i.e., about the axes of stub shafts 46, 48 and 50 respectively) or some slight eccentricity in the position of the axes of said members in relation to the axes of the stub shafts.

Members 34, 36 and 38 have bell-cranks 52, 54 and 56 respectively pivotally mounted thereon at 53, 55 and 57 as shown. One end of each of the bell-cranks, that is, the ends 58, 60 and 62 of bell-cranks 52, 54 and 56 respectively are engageable with pattern wheel jacks and the other ends of the bell-cranks pivotally connect at 64, 66 and 68 with links 63, and 67 respectively. As shown, link 63 pivotally connects at 70 with plunger 72 of a solenoid 74. Similarly link 65 pivotally connects at 76 with plunger 78 of a solenoid 80, and link 67 pivotally connects at 82 with plunger 84 of a solenoid 85. The solenoids 74, 80, and 85 acting through their associated linkages serve as jack actuators for the pattern wheels 10, 12, and 14 respectively.

Ratcheting mechanisms 40, 42 and 44 include pawls 86, 88 and 90 respectively. Pawl 86 is biased by a spring 92 into engagement with pattern wheel ring 10. Pawl 88 is biased by a spring 94 into engagement with pattern wheel ring 12, and pawl 90 is biased by a spring 96 into engagement with pattern wheel ring 14. The relative positions on each of members 34, 36 and 38 of the associated ratcheting mechanism and associated bell-crank are such that with the pawl of a ratcheting mechanism in a slot between the teeth of a pattern wheel ring, the jack engageable end of the bell-crank is in a position where it may enter a pattern wheel slot and raise a jack.

Member 34 pivotally connects at 98 with one end of a lever 100, and member 36 pivotally connects at 102 with one end of a lever 104. Similarly member 38 pivotally connects at 106 with one end of a lever 108. The other ends of levers 100, 104 and 108 pivotally connect at 110, 112 and 114 respectively with stationary structure 115. The levers 100, and 104 pivotally connect at intermediate locations 116 and 118 respectively with a link 120. Lever 104 also pivotally connects at 118 with one end of a link 122. Lever 108 pivotally connects at an intermediate location 124 with the other end of link 122. Lever 108 also pivotally connects at 124 with one end of a link 126. Link 126 is subject to actuation by motive means shown by way of example as an electric motor 132 acting through a crank 128 affixed to the motor shaft 130 and pivotally connected to the link. A pair of cams 134 and 136 are also affixed to shaft 130.

The cams 134 and 136 control the operation of switches 202 and 204 respectively which are included in the control circuitry of FlG. 2 for the motor 132 and solenoids 74, 80 and 85.

Motor 132 is subject to intermittent operation and when operated its shaft is rotated from the position shown through one revolution, the crank 128 acting through the connecting linkages, levers, the members 34, 36 and 38 and ratcheting mechanisms 40, 42 and 44 indexing each pattern wheel ring one slot at a time in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 while the motor shaft rotates through the first 180. Stationary ratchets 142, 144 and 146 prevent rotation of pattern wheel rings 10, 12 and 14 respectively in a counter clockwise direction during the second 180 of rotation. Spring 148 and stop 150 precisely define an initial position from which each of the members 34, 36 and 38 is moved by motor 132 and wherein pawls 86, 88 and 90 are in the slots of wheels 10, 12 and 14 respectively.

Motor shaft 130 connects through mechanism as shown, for example, in the aforesaid patent application of Lester Mishcon et a1. Ser. No. 289,393 filed Sept. 15, 1972 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,581 issued Aug. 13, 1974), with a horizontally adjustable carriage 152 which is adapted to hold a paper 154 card or the like and which includes a rotatably mounted roller 156 with which the paper may be adjusted in a vertical direction as by turning knobs 158 and 160 or by manipulating other roller adjusting means. Whenever motor 132 is energized, the carriage 152 is indexed horizontally by the motor 132 operating through mechanism connecting the motor shaft 130 with the carriage including a gear 162 and a rack 164 to which the carriage is affixed, successive revolutions of the motor being effective to successively align rectangular areas on paper 154 defined by ruled lines 166 and 168 with the cross hairs of a viewer 170 along the line of sight 172.

The rectangular areas on the paper 154 may be variously colored or otherwise marked as required to define a colored pattern to be reproduced in a fabric on a circular knitting machine utilizing for each course a plurality of pattern wheels corresponding in number to the number of differently colored yarns required in the course. Pattern wheel rings 10, 12 and 14 exemplify a set of wheels for one course. All of the jacks in such pattern wheel rings are initially disposed in needle actuating positions and are thereafter selectively positioned by the mechanism of the invention. In FIG. 1 the colors to be reproduced in the fabric and for which jacks are to be selectively positioned in the pattern wheel rings 10, 12 and 14 are denoted on paper 154 by the letter W for white, B for black and R for red. The paper 154 is adjusted on the roller 156 and the carriage 152 is adjusted horizontally to bring a first rectangular area including a color marking on the left hand side of the paper of a selected row (the row representing one course in the fabric to be produced) into alignment with the cross hairs of the viewer 170 along the line of sight 172 and the device of the invention is then operated repetitively utilizing as control instrumentalities buttons 174, 176 and 178 (FIG. 2) which cause the pattern wheel rings and carriage to be indexed, and jacks to be selectively raised in the pattern wheel rings. Such procedure is repeated for each row on the paper 154 representing a course and including markings defining the colors to be included in the course. The buttons 174, 176 and 178 which are selectively operated according to whether the color marking on the paper 154 in alignment with the cross hairs of viewer 170 along the line of sight 172 is white, black or red respectively cause the control circuitry of FIG. 2 for the motor 132 and for the solenoids 174, 176 and 178 to be operated as explained hereinbelow.

As may be seen in FIG. 2 button 174 controls: (1) a switch 184 consisting of switch arm 184a and contact 184b, and (2) a switch 186 consisting of switch arm 186a and contact 186b. Button 176 controls: (1) a switch 188 consisting of switch arm 188a and contact l88b and (2) a switch 190 consisting of switch arm 190a and contact 1901). Button 178 controls (1) a switch 192 consisting of switch arm 192a and contact 192b and (2) a switch 194 consisting of switch arm 194a and contact l94b. Each button and its associated switch arms are biased by spring means (not shown) into the positions illustrated wherein the switches are open. When a button is depressed its switches are closed and when released its switches open.

Assuming an operating voltage across lines 180 and 182 and that control button 174 is depressed to close switches 184 and 186, current is caused to flow through line 180, switch 186, line 196, line 198, line 200 including motor 132 and line 182, and the motor begins to rotate whereupon cam 134 is moved from the position in which it is shown to close switch 202 consisting of switch arm 202a and contact 202b. Cam 136 is moved by the motor from its illustrated position to close switch 204 consisting of switch arm 204a and contact 204b. The closing of switch 202 completes a circuit effective to maintain motor 132 energized after the release of button 174, such circuit extending over line 180, line 206, line 207, line 208 including switch 202, line 200 including motor 132 and line 182. The closing of switch 204 completes a circuit through line 180, switch 184, line 212, relay 214, line 216, line 218, line 220, line 221 including the switch 204 and line 182. Consequently relay 214 picks up and the switches 222, 224 and 226 are closed, the switch arms 222a, 224a and 226a being moved from the open positions shown corresponding to the deenergized condition of the relay to positions of engagement with contacts 222b, 2241: and 226b respectively. A holding circuit which maintains relay 214 energized after the release of button 174 is completed through line 180, line 206, line segments 228, 230, and 232, switch 222, line 234, relay 214, line 216, line 218, line 220, line 221 including switch 204, and line 182. When relay 214 picks up energizing circuits are completed for electromagnets and 85. The completed circuit for electromagnet 80 extends through line 180, line 206, line segment 228, switch 226, line 236 including electromagnet 80, line 238, line 240, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. The completed circuit for electromagnet extends through line 180, line 206, line segment 228, line segment 230, switch 224, line 242 including electromagnet 85, line 240, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. The electromagnets 80 and 85 upon being energized act through connecting linkages hereinbefore described to raise jacks 22 and 28 in pattern wheel rings 12 and 14 respectively. Rotation of motor 132 and the resultant movement of the wheels 10, 12 and 14 causes the raised jack 22 in wheel 12 to be moved onto cam plate 242 and the raised jack 28 in wheel 14 to be moved onto cam plate 224. As the jacks move onto cam plates 242 and 244 the energizing circuits for electromagnets 80 and 85 are opened at switch 204 and the jack raising mechanisms connected to the electromagnets 80 and 85 are caused to assume initial nonactuating positions by spring biasing means (not shown) within the electromagnets. The energizing circuit for relay 214 is also opened at switch 204 and the relay switches 222, 224 and 226 open. The electromagnets 80 and 85 and relay 214 are deenergized by switch 204 after about 135 of rotation of motor 132, however, the motor rotates for a full 360 after which the motor energizing circuit is opened at switch 202. The net result then of operating button 174 is to index all wheels one slot and to raise and position a jack in each of wheels 12 and 14 onto cam plates 242 and 244 respectively. The jacks flip over upon subsequent rotation of the wheels.

lf button 176 is depressed switches 188 and 190 are closed and current flows through line 180, line 181, switch 190, line 246, line 248, line 198, line 200 including motor 132 and line 182, and the motor begins to rotate. Switch 202 closes establishing the circuit previously described extending through line 180, line 206, line 207, line 208 including switch 202, line 200 including the motor 132 and line 182 to thereby maintain the motor in operation after the release of button 176. Switch 204 closes to complete a circuit through line 180, line 181, switch 188, line 250, relay 252, line 254, line 218, line 220, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. Relay 252 picks up closing switches 256, 258 and 260, the switch arms 256a, 258a and 2600 being moved from the open positions in which they are shown to positions of engagement with contacts 256b, 258b and 260b respectively. Relay 252 is maintained energized after the release of button 176 by a holding circuit extending over line 180, line 206 and 207, line segment 262, line segments 264, 266 and 268, switch 256, line 270, the relay 252, line 254, line 218, line 220, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. When relay 2S2 picks up an energizing circuit is completed for electromagnet 74 over switch 260, and assuming blister switch 272 is closed as shown an energizing circuit is completed for electromagnet 85 over switch 258. The circuit for electromagnet 74 extends through line 180, line 206, line 207, line segment 262, line segment 264, switch 260, line 274, the electromagnet 74, line 276, line 238, line 240, line 221 including switch 204, and line 182. The circuit for electromagnet 85 extends over line 180, line 206, line 207, line segment 262, line segments 260 and 266, switch 258, line 278 including blister switch 272, the electromagnet 85, line 240, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. The energization of electromagnets 74 and 85 results in a jack being raised in each of pattern wheels and 14, and rotation of the motor 132 indexing the wheels 10, 12 and 14 causes the raised jack 16 in wheel 10 and raised jack 28 in wheel 14 to be moved onto cam plates 280 and 244 respectively. As the jacks move onto the cam plates which occurs after about 135 of rotation of motor 132 the energizing circuits for electromagnets 74 and 85 are opened at switch 204 and such electromagnets along with mechanisms connected thereto are caused to assume their initial positions by spring biasing means within the electromagnets. The motor 132 completes one revolution after which its energizing circuit is opened at switch 202. The effect then of operating button 176 with blister switch 272 closed is to operate electromagnets 74 and 85 so as to cause a jack to be lifted in each of wheels 10 and 14 and positioned on associated cam plates, and to index each of wheels 10, 12 and 14 one slot.

When button 178 is depressed the motor 132 is energized through line 180, line 181, switch 194, line 282, line 248, line 198, line 200 including motor 132 and line 182. Switch 202 closes to maintain rotation of the motor after the release of button 178 by completing the energizing circuit hereinbefore described extending through line 180, line 206, line 207, line 208, including switch 202, line 200 including the motor 132 and line 182. Operation of the motor 132 results in the closing of contact 204 to complete a circuit for relay 284 through line 180, line 181, switch 192, line 286, relay 284, line 288, line 220, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. Relay 284 picks up to close switches 290, 292, and 294. The closing of switch 290 completes a holding circuit for relay 284 through line 180, line 206, line 207, line segment 262, line 296, line segment 298, line segment 300, switch 290, line 302, relay 284, line 288, line 220, line 221 including switch 204, and line 182. The closing of switch 294 completes a circuit for electromagnet 74 extending through line 180, line 206, line 207, line segment 262, line 296, switch 294, line 304, the electromagnet 74, line 276, line 238, line 240, the switch 204, line 221 and line 182. The closing of switch 292 completes a circuit for electromagnet extending through line 180, line 206, line 207, line segment 262, line 296, line segment 298, switch 292, line 306, electromagnet 80, line 238, line 240, line 221 including switch 204 and line 182. The energizing of electromagnets 74 and 80 results in the raising of jacks i6 and 22 in wheels 10 and 12 respectively. Such electromagnets are deenergized by the opening of switch 204 after these jacks are positioned onto plates 280 and 242. The motor 132, however, continues to rotate causing all of the wheels to be indexed one slot. The motor is deenergized by the opening of switch 202, substantially at the end of one revolution.

As described, each time the apparatus of the inven tion is operated ajack in one pattern wheel ring of a set of rings is left in a needle raising position and a jack in each of the other pattern wheel rings of the set is raised so that it may ultimately be flipped over to a nonactuating position. Such sets of wheels wherein the positions of the jacks have been so determined may then be utilized in a circular knitting machine to produce a patterned fabric in color, each set of the pattern wheel rings being used in producing one course, and the jacks in the needle raising position in the pattern wheel rings of the set being used to position needles as required to work colored yarn (the number of colors corresponding to the number of rings in the set) into the course.

The described operation of the apparatus of the invention may be modified so that it can be used to program pattern wheel rings for use in producing blister patterns. Such modification is accomplished merely by opening blister switch 272. With the blister switch open only buttons 174 and 176 are used. Opening switch 272 does not affect the operation of the apparatus in response to the actuation of button 174, so that, when button 174 is depressed electromagnets 80 and are operated and electromagnet 74 remains deenergized. Operation of the apparatus in response to the actuation of button 176, however, is changed since the energizing circuit for electromagnet 85 is open at the switch 272. Depression of button 176, therefore, results in the operation of only one of the clectromagnets, that is the electromagnet 74 and the other electromagnets 80 and 85 remain deenergized. In other words, with the blister switch open when button 174 is depressed a jack is left in a needle actuating position in one wheel and a jack in each of the other wheels is raised for ultimate disposal in a non-actuating position, and when button 176 is depressed a jack is raised in one wheel so that it may be flipped to a non-actuating position and a jack in each of the other wheels is left in a needle actuating position. Pattern wheel rings so programmed are suited for use on a circular knitting machine for producing blister patterns in a knitted fabric which may or may not include contrasting colors.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. ln combination, a plurality of rotatably supported pattern wheel rings, each with slots wherein needle controlling jacks may be positioned, a jack actuator for each pattern wheel ring operable to position jacks therein, a carriage to support a paper, card or the like on which jack positions are indicated, viewing means with which such indications on the paper, card or the like may be aligned, a control instrumentality for each pattern wheel ring, circuit means connected to said control instrumentalities, motive means connected to the circuit means and operable upon actuation of any one of the said control instrumentalities, mechanism operatively connected to the motive means for causing relative movement of the carriage and viewing means upon operation of the motive means for successively aligning the viewing means with the indications on the paper, card or the like defining jack positions, and means operatively connected to the motive means for indexing the pattern wheel rings simultaneously one slot in response to the operation of any one of the said control instrumentalities, said circuit means being connected to the jack actuators to effect an operating pattern among the jack actuators differing according to the particular control instrumentality operated.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the control instrumentality for each pattern wheel is manually operable.

3. The combination of claim I wherein the circuit means includes circuit elements between the control instrumentalities and jack actuators effective when the control instrumentality for a particular pattern wheel is operated to maintain the jack actuator for such pattern wheel deenergized and cause operation of the other jack actuators.

4. The combination of claim 3 including switch means in the said circuit means operable to prevent energization of one of the said other jack actuators.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the motive means is an electrically operable motor said combination including means controlled by the motor for deenergizing the operated jack actuators prior to the completion of of rotation of the motor.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the motive means is an electrically operable motor which rotates one revolution whenever one of the said control instrumentalities is operated, the circuit means including switch means connected to the motor to deenergize the motor and prevent rotation beyond said one revolution in response to the operation of a control instrumentality.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pattern wheel rings are three in number, said control instrumentalities are manually operable and said circuit means includes circuit elements between the control instrumentalities and jack actuators effective when the control instrumentality for a particular pattern wheel is operated to maintain the jack actuator for such pattern wheel deenergized and cause operation of the other two jack actuators.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a blister switch in said circuit means disposable to prevent energization of one of the said other two jack actuators.

l l k 

1. In combination, a plurality of rotatably supported pattern wheel rings, each with slots wherein needLe controlling jacks may be positioned, a jack actuator for each pattern wheel ring operable to position jacks therein, a carriage to support a paper, card or the like on which jack positions are indicated, viewing means with which such indications on the paper, card or the like may be aligned, a control instrumentality for each pattern wheel ring, circuit means connected to said control instrumentalities, motive means connected to the circuit means and operable upon actuation of any one of the said control instrumentalities, mechanism operatively connected to the motive means for causing relative movement of the carriage and viewing means upon operation of the motive means for successively aligning the viewing means with the indications on the paper, card or the like defining jack positions, and means operatively connected to the motive means for indexing the pattern wheel rings simultaneously one slot in response to the operation of any one of the said control instrumentalities, said circuit means being connected to the jack actuators to effect an operating pattern among the jack actuators differing according to the particular control instrumentality operated.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the control instrumentality for each pattern wheel is manually operable.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the circuit means includes circuit elements between the control instrumentalities and jack actuators effective when the control instrumentality for a particular pattern wheel is operated to maintain the jack actuator for such pattern wheel deenergized and cause operation of the other jack actuators.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including switch means in the said circuit means operable to prevent energization of one of the said other jack actuators.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the motive means is an electrically operable motor said combination including means controlled by the motor for deenergizing the operated jack actuators prior to the completion of 180* of rotation of the motor.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the motive means is an electrically operable motor which rotates one revolution whenever one of the said control instrumentalities is operated, the circuit means including switch means connected to the motor to deenergize the motor and prevent rotation beyond said one revolution in response to the operation of a control instrumentality.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pattern wheel rings are three in number, said control instrumentalities are manually operable and said circuit means includes circuit elements between the control instrumentalities and jack actuators effective when the control instrumentality for a particular pattern wheel is operated to maintain the jack actuator for such pattern wheel deenergized and cause operation of the other two jack actuators.
 8. The combination of claim 7 including a blister switch in said circuit means disposable to prevent energization of one of the said other two jack actuators. 